31st (City of London) Signal Regiment

The 31st (Greater London) Signal Regiment was a territorial communications regiment of the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals. The regiment first formed following the creation of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve in 1967 after the 1966 Defence White Paper. After seeing limited reserve support during the Cold War, the regiment was disbanded in 2010 following the initial Army 2020 reform.

31st (Greater London) Signal Regiment
Badge of the regiment
Active1967—2010
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeSignals Regiment
RoleMilitary Communications
SizeRegiment
Part of2nd (National Communications) Signal Brigade
Garrison/HQHammersmith
Nickname(s)31 Signal Regiment
Last Communications EquipmentHF Communications
EngagementsOperation Telic
Website31 (Greater London) Signal Regiment (Volunteers)

History

edit

Following the announcement of the 1966 Defence White Paper, new "large" regiments and formed within the new Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. Although more focused on the infantry corps and royal artillery, the royal corps of signals did see some changes including new TA regiments.[1] On 1 April 1967 the 31st (Greater London) Signals Regiment was formed with the following regiments being the "parent" units;[2]

After formation the regimental headquarters were located at Hammersmith where they would remain for almost 30 years. After organising the regiment was assigned to the 11th Signal Group (V) as the reserve trunk communications signal regiment for SHAPE. By 1992 the regiment was moved under control of the 2nd (National Communications) Signal Brigade and provided communications for the City of London and general County of London area.[3][4][5][6]

In 1994, the regimental headquarters moved to Wandsworth Barracks in Southfields where it remained until disbandment. During this period, the regiment had links with the Worshipful Company of Innholders and the London University Officer's Training Corps. During the initial Operation Telic invasion, volunteers of the regiment served in Iraq with their regular counterparts.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

In 2010 the regiment was disbanded following the concurrent disbandment of the 2nd Signal Brigade and the re-organisation of the TA signals as a result of the Army 2020 reform. Although the RHQ was disbanded, all squadrons' titles, lineages, and roles were all retained, with most squadrons moving to the other London signals regiment, 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment (V).[5]

Organisation

edit

Organisation of the regiment during its existence;[9][10]

Regimental Lineages

edit

The regiment, along with the other London Regiments, maintained the following battalion's/regiment's lineages and traditions;[7][8][12]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "31 Signal Regiment Association | Royal Signals Association". Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  2. ^ "Reorganisation of London Units 1967-1968". www.steppingforwardlondon.org. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  3. ^ a b Lord and Watson, p.137
  4. ^ a b "190-192 Hammersmith Road". www.steppingforwardlondon.org. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  5. ^ a b c "31 Signal Regiment Association | Royal Signals Association". Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  6. ^ a b c 31 (City of London) Signal Regiment webpage
  7. ^ a b "The Territorial Force and The London Regiment 1908". www.steppingforwardlondon.org. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  8. ^ a b "Livery Companies and Cadet Affiliations". www.steppingforwardlondon.org. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  9. ^ Lord and Watson, p.137
  10. ^ Lord and Watson, p.286
  11. ^ "190-192 Hammersmith Road". www.steppingforwardlondon.org. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  12. ^ "Reorganisation of London Units in 2007". www.steppingforwardlondon.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25.

Sources

edit